A CHRISTMAS TRIPTYCH
Anonymous 15th Century English
Adam lay ybounden
Adam lay ybounden,
Bounden in a bond;
Four thousand winter
Thought he not too long.
And all was for an apple,
An apple that he took,
As clerkës finden
Written in their book.
Ne had the apple taken been,
The apple taken been,
Ne had never Our Lady
A-been heaven-e queen.
Blessed be the time
That apple taken was.
Therefore we may singen
Deo gratias!
I sing of a maiden
I sing of a maiden
That is makeless
King of all kings
To her son she ches.
He came all so still
Where his mother was,
As dew in April
That falleth on the grass.
He came all so still
To his mother’s bow’r,
As dew in April
That falleth on the flow’r.
He came all so still
Where his mother lay,
As dew in April
That falleth on the spray.
Mother and maiden
Was never none but she;
Well may such a lady
Godës mother be.
When Christ was born of Mary free
When Christ was born of Mary free
in Bethlehem that fair city,
Angels sang with mirth and glee,
"In excelsis gloria!”
Shepherds beheld these angels bright-
To them appeared with great light,
And said, “God's son is born this night.
In excelsis gloria!”
The King is come to save his kind
In the scripture as we find;
Therfore this song we have in mind:
“In excelsis gloria!”
Then dear Lord, for thy great grace,
Grant us the bliss to see thy face,
Where we may sing to thy solace:
“In excelsis gloria!”
(Edited by Crawford R. Thoburn)